Discharge

• Genre: Hardcore

About

Next to the Misfits skull, Discharge's logo is arguably one of the most common logos on stud-covered leather jackets worn by punks. In the late 1970s, when the Sex Pistols were making headlines around the world and the Clash were dodging gobs of spit from adorning fans, Discharge blazed their own trail of furious, politically charged Punk. Upon releasing their first single in 1980, they helped create a bridge between the growing Metal scene in England and the waning Punk scene. Their songs were much faster and harder than those by fellow punks, but they kept a heightened awareness of politics alive in their songs (contrary to typical Metal). Years later, Discharge still blast out thrashing Hardcore songs, and their influence goes far beyond motivating crusty punks who put their hair in liberty spikes -- both Anthrax and Metallica have always cited Discharge as one of their earliest influences.

- Mark Murrmann